hindsight

noun

hind·​sight ˈhīn(d)-ˌsīt 

: perception of the nature of an event after it has happened

In hindsight, it's clear there were alternatives.

Hindsight is twenty-twenty.

Examples of hindsight in a Sentence

It's easy for us to say that the war was wrong, but we have the advantage of hindsight.

Recent Examples on the Web

What’s more frustrating is that neither of the bracket’s two best overall performers will be proceeding on to the semifinals, and in hindsight, one of them — Acid Betty — really wasn’t given a chance. —Chris Feil, Vulture, 27 June 2025

In hindsight, Corless said, maybe the city could have taken more time in going over proposals with the union. —Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 27 June 2025

Yet, when viewed in hindsight, Manchester City’s horror season last year resulted from a whole host of decisions that look wildly risky in retrospect. —Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025

What everyone didn’t know in hindsight was that the groundwork for two more championships had already been laid. —Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 21 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing hindsight

• twenty-twenty hindsight

Rhymes for hindsight

• affright
• airtight
• albite
• alight
• alright
• aplite
• aright
• bainite
• birthright
• bobwhite
• bornite
• bullfight

Kids Definition

hindsight

noun

hind·​sight ˈhīn(d)-ˌsīt 

: realization of the meaning or importance of an event only after it has happened